Elementary Guidance Counselor

Description:

In collaboration with the school’s teachers and administration, the School Counselor advises and counsels students and provides educational services. The Counselor also provides crisis intervention services as needed.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: i

• Supports the mental health of students individually and/or in small group counseling sessions to help them understand and overcome personal, emotional, social or behavioral challenges.
• Knowledge of best developmentally appropriate practices for grades K-8.
• Familiar with MTSS process as it relates to Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 behavioral interventions.
• Supports curriculum through ongoing classroom guidance.
• Understanding of meeting the needs of a socially and culturally diverse student population.
• Utilizes a variety of strategies in problem solving with individual students.
• Counsels students to help them understand and overcome personal, social, or behavioral problems affecting their educational situations.
• Provides crisis intervention to students when difficult situations occur at schools.
• Confers with parents or guardians, teachers, administrators, and other professionals to discuss children's progress, resolve behavioral, academic, and other problems, and to determine priorities for students and their resource needs.
• Maintains accurate and complete student records as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations.
• Prepares students for later educational experiences by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
• Identifies cases of domestic abuse or other family problems and encourages students or parents to seek additional assistance from mental health professionals.
• Teaches classes and presents self-help or information sessions on subjects related to education and social emotional learning programs.
• Attends meetings, educational conferences, and training workshops and serves on committees as needed.
• Establishes and enforces administration policies and rules governing student behavior.
• Contributes to a team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.
• Performs other duties as needed.

Requirements:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and Experience:

• Master’s degree in Counseling or related field preferred.
• At least five years of experience in related field.
• Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
• Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
• Requires an appreciation and respect for the Catholic Church and its teachings.
• Church employees must conduct themselves in a manner that is consistent with and supportive of the mission and purpose of the Church.
• Their public behavior must not violate the faith, morals or laws of the Church or the policies of the diocese.

Organizational/Interpersonal Skills:

• A high level of organizational and interpersonal skill is required.
• Attention to detail and working well with others is also required.
• Must have the ability to manage and to present oneself professionally.

Language/Communication Skills:

• Ability to communicate effectively with subordinates.
• Ability to effectively communicate with Principal as well as staff, students, and parents. Confidentiality is essential.

Mathematical Skills:

• Ability to apply basic mathematical concepts such as adding, dividing, and multiplying.

Reasoning Ability:

• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.

Physical Requirements:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand, walk, talk, feel, sit, grasp, hear and perform repetitive motions of the hands/wrists; required to see up close and from far away.
• Also may be required to lift up to 30 lbs.

Working Environment:

• Work is performed mostly in an office setting.
• Employee may be required to work more than 40 hours including occasional evenings and weekends, and do extensive computer work.